Bombardier Signs Five LOIs for Challenger 800-Series
Morris Shirazi, founder and owner of Fort Lauderdale-based Aero Toy Store, an unnamed Ukranian firm and an anonymous European firm signed letters of intent, secured by deposits, for five Challenger 800-series corporate shuttles fresh on the heels of Bombardier’s program launch at EBACE in Geneva. Shirazi signed for two Challenger 850s, and the two European firms bought one 850 and two 870s.
If the three firms convert the LOIs into sales, the total value of the contracts will be worth $145 million, according to Leo Knaapen, public relations chief for Bombardier business aircraft.
The $29 million Challenger 850 started life as the Corporate RJ several years ago. It’s based on the CRJ200 and it’s capable of flying 27 passengers up to 2,200 nmi when fitted with aux belly tanks. The Challenger 870, the aircraft featured in the June 2005 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation, is a new aircraft based upon the CRJ 700. Bombardier also offers the Challenger 890, based upon the CRJ900, but the Montreal firm has yet to announce any LOIs or sales for the largest member of the family.
Bombardier also announced a $16 million, 97,000-square-foot expansion of its factory-owned service center at Dallas-Love, a large addition to its DFW training center, and Transport Canada certification of its EVS aboard the Global 5000. —Fred George
